In my opinipon micro controllers are the future. We have seen even a siple small gadget have multiple controlls so we can better used it. Whirlpool french door refrigerators have also multiple micro controllers which help to add several features to it

We can see that the Open Source Hardware Initiatives are playing a major role in the advancements, e.g. Kitchen Utilities here. These boards will show us many more advancements in many day to day applications with electronics.

@daleste: I built one of those clay pot smokers about 10 years ago after seeing Alton Brown do one on Good Eats. They work quite well except that finding a clay pot greater than 8 inches in diameter is difficult: most of the larger ones are plastic made to look like clay. Since I like to do a whole brisket at a time, it doesn't fit.